New Ulm weekly review., 1887-03-23
The Silent Gossip.

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the ug. and says cooHy; II feel very
much honored, Pm sure, but 1 don't
think we are suited to each other, )" the
young man who is most interested in
the conversation can do nothing bet
ter than depart as soon as consistent
with his dignity.
So Richard went out and banged
the door, leaving Dolly in the library.
Dolly was 18, Richard was 23, the
ages at which a man and woman
are most given to tormenting each
other.
Dolly thought Richard the hand
soonest and wisest of human beings;
Richard thought Dolly the loveliest
and most lovable of women; so there
isno use describing either OF them.
That Dolly should refuse Richard, or
that Richard should propose to
Dolly in an unfavorabe moment, may
seem very strange, but it was thefault
OF a gossip, a silent gossip, who or
which had circulated most extraor-
binary intelligence concerning Rich
ard.
One fine afternoon, less than week
before this painful evening interview,
Richard walked down Main street,
enjoying the mild spring air, thinking
OF Dolly and tennis, Dolly and his
canoe, Dolly and his tandem, and
Dolly and his buggy, as had been his
habit ever since he returned from col
lege and found that Dolly had treas
ured up all his letters to her brother.
Main Street was crowded; the even
ing train, the :'supper train," from
town, had just arrived, and Richard,
who had come down by an earlier
train on some business with old Mr..
Frankland met the crowd, and beam
Led serenely on every one.
People meet very closely on the mar
row sidewalk Of a village street; that
was the reason why the two Poulett
girls, apparently struck by Richards
new scarf-pin, stared and giggled as
they passed. Then Miss Lawndes, the
>dressmaker, peered at him with eager
eyes; Mrs. Allan, the doctors wife,
stout and slow, came to full stop in
front of him, aid as he stepped aside
togive herroom, she turned and look
ed at him again before she passed on.
Richards special friends, "the boys"
as the young lawyers clerks and rail
road men of his own age were called,
were nearly all on the other side OF the
street, but Bobby Price, just through
college, and on his way home from the
tennis-ground, sauntered slowly to
meet Richard. Lulie Cameron was
with him, giggling as usual, and they
both stopped and talked to Richard
for q minute or two. Then it was tea
time, and everyone in well-regulated
.Sunnydale went home.
Within the next three days all Sun
mydale was talking about Richard
Dale and Julia Frankland; of the out
rageous Irritation between them, for
Julia was engaged to George Lane, who
was in Europe on long business trip
The first that Dolly Firth heard. OF
itwas from her Aunt Julia Dorr. Aft
or announcing the facts in the case,
she said
Owe all know that Julia firted be.
lore she was engaged; but I never
would have believed she could have
misbehaved SO afterward. George
will be furious. OF course he will
break Off, and l can't blame him."
Dolly kept silent. Richard had been
devoted to her since they were chill
dren, they had quarreled and made
up a dozen times, and he had occa-
sionally invited other girls to parties
and picnics, when he had thought
Dolly had shown signs OF undervalu-
ing him, but never in their lives had
there been anything like this. And to
think how he had kept on calling on
her three times q week, while, he was,
no doubt, calling on Julia the other
-four evenings! And then to come
sdown in the early train to call on her!
The detestable little flirt, it was all
Sher FAULT" thought Dolly, bending
over her work and blushing with
SHANE and anger. az
But though Dolly inwardly ragged
she showed no signs Of disturbance,
aud serenely met Richard when he call
ed, as usual, two days after she had
learned o. his falseness.
"Iti it were not that the whole vii
aage had seen it, believe I should be
deceived by him again, f" thought Dolly
as she looked into his eyes that were
sdearer to her than all others, as
they beamed at her from under Rich
ards straight brows.
When Richard, who had lately made
certain satisfactory business arrange.
ments and felt that now his lifelong
devotion deserved to be rewarded
made what he considered a neat and
q creditable proposal, his wrath at her
refusal was not greater than Dolly's
at his presumption. Is
ri didn't need to lead up to it, as if
L had only known her amonth! She's
been fooling me all this time' was
Richards 8 angry comment as he went
down the steps.
He thinks because she's. engaged
and firts, he can be engaged. and firt
toU" was Dolly's meditation, mingled
with tears. "But / would take him
Oh, Iwould be just such q fool ane
forgive him--if the VIII village hadn'1
seen iifi1n and Dolly went above ths